Becky's quilt obsession

The photos on the left are of my stash, which I had just straightened, in January, 2008. The right pictures are of the current stash, not straightened. The shelves appear to be relatively unchanged, but that isn't true. I have nearly used up at the flannels-a goal for 2009. The blue stacks were decimated for quilts of valor through HeartStrings, and the purples are down to one stack. The unruly stack on the top right, is my backings, which used to be stored on the top of the fat quarter s helves, below. The fat quarter shelves have also changed. (The missing bin in the left picture was out on the cutting table.) The top of the shelves now contain 3 large boxes that were previously stored in the garage. The red, white, blue patriotic bin has gone the way of Quilts of Valor, including the huge stack of fabric that Rose gave me. What I didn't sew myself, was donated at a Heartstrings Sew-In. The fluff on the cutting table is bridal netting, in the process of being sewn to he...

Someone attending MQS (machine quilters' showcase) today, and tomorrow, is using my new 12' Nolting table. We took apart our 14' table today, and tomorrow after class will drive over to Overland Park, KS and exchange them, for a fee. I hope I am going to like having the machine up here where I can have breaks when working on it, but it does make a tight fit for the room. Where am I supposed to put all this? Underneath all this is my cutting table. I hope to see the top of it soon after we assemble the long-arm. I hated giving up my closets when we built/moved to this house. If I would finish some UFO's it would help. I hope I have room under the table to fill it with "rolly" carts. The DGC have 2, and the pink bin of dress-up clothes. There are also dolly beds, etc. Then I have 2 big rolls of batting, plus some packages. Ugh, I don't think I'll like the next few days. I do plan to stop the rearranging on Wednesday to go to the Vendor sale at...

Hi, out there, I'm still here, just not doing much quilting. Little girls need dolly dresses, and I'm moving things about, trying to make room for the quilting machine at my house. My partner wants me to buy her out or sell the machine, so I finally decided to crowd it in here. Nolting is bringing 12' table parts to trade out for my 14' when they come to MQS in May. It will be used in the hands-on classes the first two days, and DH and I will drive over in the truck and trade out the pieces when they take the tables out, and move the whole thing up here. It's a lot of work for DH, but he loves me very much and wants me to be happy. Yes, he is a keeper! I had a bit more work on my left knee today. It was holding up the rehab on my new right knee. Maybe this will make them come out even (and good!). The hardest part is being off arthritis meds for the week before surgery. I'm back on them tonight, so the worst is over!! I'm really looking forward to...

I missed design wall Monday last week. I was working on a Double Irish chain, in purples. DH named it - "It's Purple". It's to the flimsy stage now. Yesterday I took time to put the Happy blocks up on the design wall to sew together today. The rest of the day was spent making Easter outfits for My Friend Mandy. DGD#1 picked the fabric. I even managed shoes. The ones sitting on the binding for the purple quilt are made out of heavy felt, and glued to a sole and insole. I need to find something other than contact cement to glue with, as it shows through. Happy Quilting, Becky Email me

I finally started sewing a bit this week. I have the strip sets made for a double Irish chain twin size. I debated waiting until the item was finished before counting it, but I know I won't remember by then. Fabric in this week: 0 Fabric out: 6 yards - double Irish chain Total for the week: -6 Total for the year: -19.625 Becky Email me

I asked for suggestions for settings of 49 of these basket blocks. I worked up 3 in EQ. I still didn't like the blocks, no matter what I did with them. I just no longer "love" blues and mauves". I did what any self-respecting quilter would do - I sent them to someone who wanted them so she could finish it and donate the quilt to a worthy cause. It's one way to finish 15 year old UFO's. Happy Quilting, Becky Email me

This week I busted stash by mail! I've stuffed 3 packages to send tomorrow to HeartStringers, and loaded bags with backing fabric for HeartStrings . That's approximately 35 yards out. I started a new spread sheet on everything quilty I've bought so far this year. Over $464 in two months; time for a reality check. Dang those Superbowl Sunday sales, and Connecting Threads closeouts. Interestingly, books and notions account for over $200 of it. I had to have, Judy L's , Bonnie's , and Judy Martin's new books, and a few more. What's a quilting bibliophile to do? Yes, I do check a lot out from the library as well! Stash Report Fabric in: 0 Fabric out:35 yards Year to date: - 13.625 yeah! Happy Quilting, Becky